Bill Hader teases Judd Apatow slasher

Bill Hader has spoken about his upcoming role in Judd Apatow's slasher horror fillm.

The actor, who previously starred in Apatow's Superbad, told The Playlist that the film - earlier known as House of Joel - is very humourous.

Hader explained: "Well, I'm not sure it's called House of Joel anymore. I don't know what's happening with it exactly. Judd, me, and [Human Giant director] Jason Woliner are gonna meet in LA soon to figure out what the next steps are.

"It's a funny, funny script and it's Judd's take on a slasher movie. It's been a long-gestating project, but I think it's worth it because it just keeps getting better."

He continued: "I play a guy who finds out that his girlfriend was basically a Laurie Strode-type from Halloween.

"She's been hiding the fact that 15 years ago she survived this horrible night and the way I find this out is that I inadvertently take her back to her hometown as a surprise and reawaken all the evil.

"It's kind of about getting over your girlfriend's past kinda thing. It's sort of like having to deal with, 'You did what!?'"

'Men In Black 3' struck by script problems?

Production on Men In Black 3 has reportedly been held up due to script problems and clashes between producer Walter Parkes and director Barry Sonnenfeld.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, filming commenced on the blockbuster sequel - starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin - last November without a completed script in place.

Sony Pictures rushed to start production by the end of 2010 to capitalise on New York City tax breaks and shave millions off the budget. A hiatus was built into the filming schedule to allow director Sonnenfeld time to complete the story - which involves a time-travelling Agent K (Smith) going back to 1969 and meeting a younger version of his partner K (Jones) - and resume shooting in the middle of February.

However, Sony has been forced to extend the hiatus to March 28 as Smith is yet to approve a completed script from David Koepp. Sonnenfeld and producer Parkes, who allegedly had a frosty relationship on the first two Men In Black outings, have supposedly reignited their feud over the production delays.

"Any movie involving time travel seems to be difficult if you want to make it work and have no bulls**t loopholes, which has taken longer than we thought it would," a source working on the blockbuster said.

Another insider added: "It's hard because you're locked into the beginning of the movie. It creates problems that are just kind of crazy."

Sony spokesman Steve Elzer downplayed the financial cost of the delay to the studio, saying: "Because we extended the hiatus from the holidays, few people were on the payroll, so this was a relatively inexpensive decision that has had an insignificant impact on the budget."

The Men In Black movies have grossed more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. The third instalment is due to open in cinemas on May 23.

Sarah Silverman: 'Nude scene is not sexy'

Sarah Silverman has jested that she agreed to film a nude scene for director Sarah Polley's upcoming film Take This Waltz in order to inspire young girls to accept their imperfections.

While being interviewed on The Howard Stern Show, the comic insisted that the full-front nudity displayed during one of the film's key sequences was not intended to be erotic.

"It's not sexual. It's like a shower scene at the Y[MCA] so of course it's not going to be well-lit," she said.

After being kidded by Stern that fans are looking forward to seeing her naked, the former Sarah Silverman Programme actress teased that those excited about the scene aren't looking for sexual gratification.

"I know people are excited to see [the nude scene], but… they're not excited to see it like [if it was] Megan Fox naked in a movie," she added. "They're excited to see it [like when] Kathy Bates was naked in About Schmidt."

She also quipped: "I want to be as comfortable with my body as I want young girls to think that I am."

Silverman will star with Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams in Take This Waltz, which is expected to be released in US cinemas later this year.

Up-and-coming movie stars of 2011

With budgets being slashed and some of the Hollywood A-List looking a little tired, the time is right for eager stars-in-the-making to step into the limelight. We've looked into the cinematic crystal ball and picked out the most likely candidates to breakthrough in 2011.

Rooney Mara

Despite starring in the terrible 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' remake, Rooney Mara landed a small role in 'The Social Network' and has now managed to nab one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood. Starring opposite Daniel Craig, Mara takes on the challenge of playing Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's remake of the popular 'Millennium' saga.

Starring in: 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

Alex Pettyfer

You might not know him now, but by the end of the year you will. Alex Pettyfer is another Brit on the rise, starting with a lead role in crazy sci-fi teen thriller 'I Am Number Four' and moving on to even teenier fare in a modern take on 'Beauty and the Beast' alongside Vanessa Hudgens. We could have the next Robert Pattinson on our hands here.

Starring in: 'I Am Number Four' and 'Beastly'

Andrew Garfield

Last year, Garfield starred in 'The Social Network', one of 2010's biggest films. The breakthrough, however, came when the young Brit was revealed as the new Peter Parker for next year's 'Spider-man' reboot. It's 2011 that will see him become a household name though, as we enjoy waves of press-released pictures of him in the iconic red and blue suit. And you'll soon be able to catch him in 'Never Let Me Go', co-starring Keira Knightley and Carey Mulligan no less.

Starring in: 'Never Let Me Go'

Jessica Chastain

With no less than seven films set for release in 2011, you can't really ignore Jessica Chastain. These aren't a series of small independent films either, her co-stars read like a who's who of Hollywood: Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Sam Worthington, Helen Mirren, Ralph Fiennes, Gerard Butler and Al Pacino are just some of the names she shares screen time with. Her career may have begun on the small screen, but it seems her future is firmly fixed on the big one.

Starring in: 'The Debt', 'Tree of Life', 'Coriolanus', 'Wilde Salome', 'The Fields' 'Take Shelter' and 'The Help'

Tom Hardy

He stole scenes from DiCaprio in 'Inception' and now he is hot property. He's already been revealed as one of the cast for 'The Dark Knight Rises', but in the meantime he is flexing his acting muscles in a rom-com with Reese Witherspoon, a Cold War thriller with Colin Firth and a drama about a fighter (not 'The Fighter', another one), all in the course of 2011. We're predicting big things for this man.

Starring in: 'This Means War', 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy' and 'Warrior'

Chris Hemsworth

The Hemsworth clan are set to take Hollywood by storm, and it's middle brother Chris who is about to hit the big-screen first with a title role in Marvel adaptation 'Thor'. After that comes 'The Avengers', the superhero team-up movie featuring Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. It's probably time that the Australian star stepped out of the shadow of TV shows 'Neighbours' and 'Home & Away' after all.

Starring in: 'Thor', 'Red Dawn' and 'The Cabin in the Woods'

Amber Heard

She wowed us in under-appreciated teen slasher 'All the Boys Love Mandy Lane', she shone in hidden gem 'The Joneses' but she has yet to make it big. 2011 might just be the year that this sizzling hot actress gets her dues, not least because of dark and interesting projects with megastars Nic Cage and Johnny Depp looming on the horizon.

Starring in: 'Drive Angry', 'The Ward', 'The Rum Diary', 'And Soon The Darkness' and 'The River Why'

Zoë Kravitz

As the daughter of legendary guitarist Lenny Kravitz, Zoë already has superstar blood coursing through her veins. So far only a supporting role in the mediocre 'It's Kind of A Funny Story' has put her talent to the test, but with the next 'X-Men' film fast approaching we could see her take it up a level. If that fails, she has an arthouse offering with Gabourey Sidibe of 'Precious' fame in the pipeline too.

Starring in: 'X-Men: First Class' and 'Yelling to the Sky'

Johnny Knoxville could star in The Three Stooges

Jackass superstar Johnny Knoxville is in the running to take on the role of Moe in the Farrelly Brothers’ Three Stooges reboot.

Knoxville is currently the siblings’ favourite for the part, with Bobby Farrell recently having admitted: “Knoxville is a real-life stooge. He’s a real-life Moe.”

Peter Farrelly adds that casting is still “wide open” to the acting community at large. Meanwhile, Benicio Del Toro could still be interested in the role of Moe – which he was attached to back when Jim Carrey and Sean Penn were in talks for the film.

No negotiations with acting talent have yet to been broached, but apparently Knoxville is keen in playing Moe now that he’s put Jackass to bed.

“This isn’t a Farrelly version of The Three Stooges,” the sibs have revealed about their film. “This is The Three Stooges. And, it’s not a biopic, by the way.

“We’ve written three new episodes. The movie is actually three episodes that go back to back to back. Each one picks up where the other one left off.

"We want you to look at it and say, ‘It’s Moe, Larry and Curly!,’ so we have very high standards on this route.”

Source: Variety

Cube 3D is in the works

Lionsgate are set to surf the 3D horror wave with Cube 3D.

The production company are currently accepting pitches from writers on how to create a new Cube film that utilises that most recent of movie fads.

The first Cube was released way back in 1997. Directed by Splice’s Vincenzo Natali, it revolved around a wickedly clever conceit – a group of strangers are trapped in a series of rooms that will kill them if they don’t figure out how to escape.

The film was a cult hit, and spawned two follow-ups – a sequel in 2002 (Cube 2: Hypercube) and an STV prequel in 2004 (Cube: Zero).

Clearly Lionsgate are hopeful that they can emulate the success of the Saw series. Their success will mostly boil down to if they can come up with some seriously grisly death games...

Source: Shock Till You Drop

Belfast Film Festival Horror Weekend

Belfast Film Festival Horror Weekend

1 - 2 April 2011

Programme:
Friday 7pm: The Whisperer in Darkness
Saturday 2pm: Horror Anthologies
Saturday 9pm: Horror All-Nighter

The Whisperer in Darkness– 2010 (European Premiere)

Friday, 7pm

A European première of the adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s ‘The Whisperer in the Darkness’ from the makers of The Call of Cthulhu, the HP Lovecraft Historical Society.

A local hermit discovers a race of aliens living in the rural Massachusetts mountains. After an historic flood, the reports of strange bodies floating in local rivers catch the attention of mythology professor, Albert Wilmarth...

The film will be accompanied by a full support programme of short and feature length films programmed by the The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society.

Horror Anthologies - Portmanteau Afternoon

Black Sabbath / Creep Show / Tales from the Crypt / Dead of Night and more.

Saturday, 2pm

In this afternoon dedicated to the lost art of the anthology, the Horror Weekend will be picking the best bits from the best anthologies, like Black Sabbath, Creep Show, Tales from the Crypt and Dead of Night.

Horror All-Nighter Saturday, 9pm

Four brand new films guaranteed to keep sleep at bay

Wound – 2010 (New Zealand)

Exploring the dark worlds of mental illness, incest, revenge and death, the audience follow Tanya as she returns from the dead to search for Susan, the mother she has never met, in turn sending Susan into a state of madness and gore-filled retribution. A dark, disturbing look into a haunted woman’s mind. This is one terrible dream you will never wake up from. Outcast - 2010 (UK)
Mary and her son Fergal live their lives on the run, using an ancient form of magic to hide from a terrifying hunter who is intent on seeking them out and killing them. When Fergal falls in love with his beautiful neighbour, the stakes are raised and the consequences of his actions are far more frightening than anyone could imagine.

The Pack (La Meute) - 2010 (France)

In the middle of a snowy no man`s land Charlotte picks up hitchhiker Max. They stop in a truck-stop restaurant but, when Max disappears and Charlotte returns to look for him, she finds much more than she bargained for.

The Taint - 2010 (USA)

The water is tainted, poisoning the minds of the men and creating a psychopathic rabble bent on destruction. This low-budget horror flick is a testament to guerilla style filmmaking with a classic mix of gore and horror.

Fourth film to be confirmed

Rihanna rules out 'Bodyguard' role

Rihanna has said that she has no interest in starring in the planned remake of The Bodyguard.

The 'What's My Name?' singer told OK that she would "absolutely not" take on the role made famous by Whitney Houston because she wants to keep her singing and acting careers separate.

"I hate it when singers do singing movies all the time because you can never look at them as anybody else," she said.

"I want to play a character. My whole life is playing Rihanna, being a singer [in a film] won't be a stretch for me. I like challenges and being an actor is playing a role, being able to step into somebody else's shoes, that's the excitement."

Rihanna will make her movie debut playing naval officer Raikes in next summer's action movie Battleship, which is based on the popular Hasbro board game.

Watts 'was embarrassed meeting spy Plame'

Naomi Watts has admitted that she was embarrassed when she first met real-life former CIA operative Valerie Plame.

Watts plays Plame in Doug Liman's upcoming movie Fair Game, which explores the personal and political fallout which occurred when the covert spy's identity was leaked to the media.

"She wanted to meet at an airport," Watts told Metro. "I remember saying to my husband, 'Who on earth meets at an airport?' And then I thought, 'Oh yeah, of course. Spies do.'"

The pair eventually met at a New York restaurant and Watts added: "I was a bit embarrassed at that first meeting. I was so respectful of Valerie that I thought, 'Oh no, she's going to think I'm a total dumb arse so I'll just go carefully and slowly with her'.

"It wasn't until our third meeting that we ordered a nice bottle of wine and I felt like I could throw some really personal questions at her, like how did she deal with this in the home? How did it affect her family and marriage?"

Summit to make BP oil spill film

Production company Summit Entertainment is to make a film about the hours leading up to the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The studio has optioned an article on the disaster written by The New York Times, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Partner Participant Media said: "This is a perfect fit for us - a suspenseful and inspiring real-life account of everyday people whose values are tested in the face of an impending environmental disaster."

A total of 28 workers were killed in the explosion on the Deepwater Horizon ship before the oil spill.

The film is to be written by Matthew Sand, who penned The Summoner, the forthcoming American by Blood and The Red Star.

Ian McKellen discusses visiting The Hobbit 3D tests

The Hobbit is finally to begin shooting later this month – something many of us feared would never happen – and, just in case we needed it, Ian McKellen’s got proof.

The British thesp, who’ll play Gandalf once more in Peter Jackson’s adap of the prequel to Lord Of The Rings, caught a 3D test for the film involving Martin Freeman.

Reporting on his official website, McKellen writes:

“I was visiting old friends in the Stone Street offices and heard Martin Freeman was just round the corner by the permanent greenscreen, done up as Bilbo, testing his costume in front of the 3D cameras.
“Indeed, there he was in the open air, mostly oblivious to the camera, though turning this way and that as required.”

For more on McKellen’s visit,  check out his website.

The Hobbit: Part One opens December 2012.

Source: McKellen.com

'Star Wars' suit reaches UK Supreme Court

George Lucas's battle over the copyright to replica Stormtrooper costumes has reached the UK Supreme Court.

Lucas contends that British prop designer Andrew Ainsworth, who built the original Stormtrooper suits for the 1977 Star Wars movie, does not own the copyright and should not be allowed to sell replicas based on his original models, reports The Guardian.

The filmmaker successfully sued Ainsworth for $20 million (£12.4m) in the US when Ainsworth began selling replicas in 2004.

Ainsworth ceased selling replicas in the US and began selling them in the UK after the lawsuit. Lucas's case was thrown out on appeal in the UK in 2008.

A ruling was reached that British copyright laws did not cover the costumes. That ruling was upheld in 2009 at the court of appeal.

Lucas reportedly hopes to cite filmmakers such as Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson and James Cameron in his defence in the UK Supreme Court.

'Rango' lassos UK box office top spot

Rango has held off competition from The Adjustment Bureau and Unknown to top the UK box office.

Johnny Depp's animated Western pulls in £1.6 million to lead the chart on its debut weekend on release. The total narrowly edges the film past Matt Damon's Bureau and Liam Neeson's Unknown to secure the number one spot.

Last week's runner-up Paul slips down to four, while The King's Speech rises to five on the back of its recent Academy Awards success.

3D animation Gnomeo & Juliet dips sharply to six , while True Grit and West Is West climb to fill numbers eight and nine respectively.

Elsewhere, new releases Ironclad and The Tempest both miss out on top ten places.

The UK box office top ten in full:

1. (-) Rango - £1,638,613
2. (-) The Adjustment Bureau - £1,395,715
3. (-) Unknown - £1,356,345
4. (2) Paul - £1,109,766
5. (6) The King's Speech - £1,076,381
6. (1) Gnomeo & Juliet - £842,278
7. (3) I Am Number Four - £498,822
8. (9) True Grit - £463,320
9. (10) West Is West - £452,076
10. (4) Yogi Bear - £435,564

Seyfried 'emulates Meryl Streep's humility'

Amanda Seyfriend has claimed that she tries to emulate her Mamma Mia co-star Meryl Streep's humility.

The Red Riding Hood actress told Elle magazine that Streep was always approachable on the set of their 2008 movie musical.

"Meryl, she makes herself very accessible right away, almost too accessible," she said. "That's what I do. And it totally works."

The star continued: "My thing about meeting people - men, women, people in general - is to desensitise them, kind of shock them a little bit, to make myself accessible."

Seyfried, who made her film debut in the 2004 comedy Mean Girls, further explained that she has developed an affinity for starring in romantic comedies like Mamma Mia.

"I don't think I'm being very 'artistic' when I do them, but I'm not doing it for that reason," the star remarked. "Romantic comedies make me happy. I watch Love Actually every Christmas."

Red Riding Hood is released on March 11 in the US and on April 15 in the UK.

Noomi Rapace talks sci-fi Prometheus

Noomi Rapace has quickly turned into the go-to gal for action when a kick-ass role needs filling. Which is clearly why she’s been chosen by Ridley Scott to star in his mysterious sci-fi Prometheus.

The Swedish Girl With The Dragon Tattoo actress has spoken with MTV about her involvement in the film, revealing that she’s jumping straight into filming after having completed Sherlock Holmes sequel A Game Of Shadows.

“My character’s name is Elizabeth Shaw,” she confirms, “and I’ll step into her shoes in March and be her for six months or something. It’s quite a long shoot. It’s unbelievable.

“She’s definitely her own [character]. She’s a scientist and is very bright. She’s a believer. I think there are some similarities [to Ripley], but she’s very much her own.
"I don’t think people will compare her so much to Ripley once they see the movie.”

Meanwhile, Hot Fuzz actor Rafe Spall has also joined Prometheus, which is reportedly set in the same universe as Alien, but is its own stand-alone movie.

Source: MTV

Third 'Riddick' will be "lean"

The director of the next Riddick film has revealed that the third instalment of the franchise will be edgier than first sequel Chronicles.

David Twohy told fans via a short film on star Vin Diesel's Facebook page that he wants the movie to have the adult rating of original Pitch Black.

He said: "We want to maintain our R-rating. We are going to be lean, and we're going to do it quick."

Diesel added that he is "committed" to the third film being more appealing to an older audience.

The Chronicles of Riddick was given a PG-13 rating.

Warner Bros to offer movie rentals on Facebook

Warner Bros has announced that Facebook users in the US will be able to watch The Dark Knight via the social networking site.

Christopher Nolan's bat-blockbuster is the first film being offered on the scheme, as the studio starts testing the new system to rent and buy movies.

Fans of The Dark Knight in the US will be able to watch the movie for $3, or 30 Facebook credits. Facebook credits are already used to pay for various apps and games on the site.

Warner Bros have said that users will have "full control over the film while watching it through their Facebook account... They can choose to watch it in full screen, pause the movie, and resume playing it when they log back into Facebook."

"Consumers will also have full Facebook functionality including the ability to post comments on the movie, interact with friends and update their status."

Thomas Gewecke, President of Warner Bros Digital Distribution said in a statement: "Facebook has become a daily destination for hundreds of millions of people... Making our films available through Facebook is a natural extension of our digital distribution efforts."
"It gives consumers a simple, convenient way to access and enjoy our films through the world’s largest social network.”

It'll be interesting to see if this approach to renting takes off, as Facebook certainly has the muscle to make a big impact in the rental market.

The Dark Knight and Inception are already available to download as 'app' versions via iTunes.

Source: CNET News

Shrek spin-off Puss in Boots

Although Shrek Forever After was purported to be the final installment of the Dreamworks saga, that didn't include feline spin-offs.

It can't have been a difficult decision to give Antonio Banderas' swashbuckling kitty his own movie, as he was one of the franchise's most consistently fun characters since his arrival in Shrek 2.

Salma Hayek is set to play his love interest, while Hangover man Zach Galifianikis will play Humpty Dumpty.

As much as Im not sure the world really needs this, it's certainly a bit fun , beginning with an Inception-riffing score, before showcasing Puss in Boots' charismatic swagger.

Rango scores biggest movie opening of 2011

Johnny Depp’s new animated adventure Rango came out trumps at this weekend’s US box office, bagging the year’s biggest opening so far.

Heading straight in at number one, the Wild West CG romp (pivotally, not in 3D) earned a record $38m. Not only that, but it beat starry new sci-if The Adjustment Bureau, which settled for second ($20m), and fresh tween-bait Beastly (in third with $10m).

Last week’s numero uno Hall Pass didn’t stand a chance, tumbling into fourth place ($9m), while last week’s number two and three followed suit, with Gnomeo And Juliet in fifth ($6.9m) and Unknown in sixth ($6.6m).

The King’s Speech jumped up a spot, though (thanks Oscars!), from eight to seventh ($6.5m), while Just Go It With showed staying power in eighth ($6.5m).

I Am Number Four tripped all the way from fourth to ninth ($5.6m), while Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never remained a box office draw in tenth with $4.3m.

Source: Box Office Mojo

What did you watch at the cinema this weekend? Drop us your reviews below...

Simon Pegg talks Mission Impossible 4

Simon Pegg has spoken out about what we should expect from the fourth Mission: Impossible movie, revealing it’s more of a series “rebirth” than a sequel.

Talking with Screen Crave, the Brit actor revealed that one of the most exciting aspects of the fourth Impossible film (subtitled Ghost Protocol) was working with first-time live-action director Brad Bird (The Incredibles).

“When a film goes into number four you're like, ‘Isn't this just like flogging a dead horse now?’” Pegg admits.

“But what they've done is they've brought in a director [Brad Bird] who's never done live action before but who's had a 100% hit rate for his previous movies.

“It's a rebirth for the series. In the same way with what they've done with Spider-Man. I feel like it's a reinvigoration of this particular story.

“It was a series when it was on TV, so it's a story that can have so many iterations. There are so many adventures to get into with this team of impossible mission fighters.”

Pegg makes his second appearance in the Mission: Impossible film series after pitching up in M:I3 as a lab technician.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol opens 16 December.

Source: Screen Crave

Impossible? Or plausible? Think the fourth Mission can be as good as the last? Speak up below...

Emma Roberts "honoured" by 'Scream' role

Emma Roberts has claimed that she spent the majority of the Scream 4 shoot "laughing her head off".

The Wild Child star is part of the "new blood" joining the forthcoming instalment of Wes Craven's horror franchise, alongside series regulars Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox and David Arquette.

Recalling the filming of the long-awaited slasher flick, Roberts gushed to Empire: "I was so honoured to work with veterans like Wes and Neve. And of course, the new generation - we called ourselves the 'new blood'.

"I basically spent two months screaming, covered in blood and laughing my head off in between each take - of course I'd do it again."

Despite greatly enjoying her time on set, Roberts confessed that the Scream movies used to provoke an altogether different reaction in her, back when she was a teenager.

She said: "I remember watching the films when I was 13 and thinking they were like nothing I'd ever seen. I'd be laughing one minute and then screaming in terror the next.

"I used to have to check every room in my parents' house before bed to make sure there wasn't a killer hiding in the closet."

Scream 4 is scheduled to hit cinemas in the UK and US on April 15.

Film director Charles Jarrott dies at 83

British film director Charles Jarrott has died at the age of 83.

According to ABC News, Jarrott passed away in Los Angeles on Friday evening, although the official cause of death has yet to be released.

The director was well-known for his costume dramas, and won a Golden Globe in 1970 for his debut film Anne Of A Thousand Days.

Among his other notable films are the Oscar-nominated Mary, Queen Of Scots and the Emmy Award-winning A Promise Kept: The Oksana Baiul Story.

Jarrott had worked within the film industry for almost 50 years.

Schwarzenegger 'considering many scripts'

Arnold Schwarzenegger has revealed that he is looking at a number of possible scripts for his next film.

Schwarzenegger, who stepped down from his role as Governor of California in January, recently announced that he would like to return to making movies. According to Movie Web, he is seriously considering at least 15 possible scripts.

"[There are] obvious ones from The Terminator to remakes of Predator and The Running Man and all of those things," said Schwarzenegger.

He continued: "Then also a lot of original stuff too. But I am also packaging a comic book character right now. I'm going to announce that sometime by the end of March or the beginning of April."

Schwarzenegger refused to reveal whether or not the comic book character would get his or her own movie franchise, stating that details on the character would have to wait.